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Jain Meditation
L.M.: During Jain meditation, does the student visualize the form of the teacher, Mahavira?
S.C.: Sure, yes.
L.M.: That is part of the dhyana or contemplation. Do many Jains also have a shrine like the one you have here?
S.C.: Yes, a smaller version.
L.M.: Of course it's not the physical object one meditates on, but on the reality which the image points us to?
S.C.: It is not the object. It is inspiring, it is the inspiration.
L.M.: People don't worship statues in Catholic churches, they are only reminders of that truth.
S.C.: Yes, that is the truth. But people get carried away in their worship; and they forget that they have to live like that.
L.M.: As those great Jain figures did. Still we can't just leave it up to them. It has to be realized by us now.
S.C.: Yes.
L.M.: Right now, there is a pressing need for spiritual community. Especially here in the West where we seem to have so little sense of community at all. The need is greater than ever in this materialistic society. How do we build more spiritual community with each other?
S.C.: Light likes the light. And it is ongoing light. So, there must be right vision. One makes the commitment that, from this day on, my life will not be hurtful to myself. I will not smoke, which leads to cancer. I will not drink, which pollutes my mind. I will not take meat, as killing hurts my purity. I don't want to cause pain to any living thing, such as by wearing fur or silk, or animal products, or cosmetics which cause suffering.
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